Antisense oligonucleotides capable of inhibiting the formation of capillary tubes by endothelial cells

ABSTRACT

A pharmaceutical composition that blocks angiogenesis comprising as active agent at least one substance selected from the group consisting of (i) a nucleic acid molecule of a gene coding for protein IRS-1, a complementary sequence or a fragment thereof and (ii) a molecule which inhibits expression of a nucleic acid molecule according to (i).

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/FR02/02067, with an international filing date of Jun. 14, 2002, which is based on French Patent Application No. 01/07805, filed Jul. 14, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides capable of inhibiting the expression of the protein IRS-1 and inhibiting the formation of capillary tubes by endothelial cells. Thus, the invention relates to antiangiogenic agents and anti-cell-multiplication agents, particularly, antitumor agents. The invention also pertains to pharmaceutical compositions containing said oligonucleotides and the use of said oligonucleotides as analysis reagents.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Angiogenesis is a fundamental process by means of which new blood vessels are formed. This process is essential in multiple normal physiological phenomena such as reproduction, development and even cicatrization. In these normal biological phenomena, angiogenesis is under strict control, i.e., it is triggered during a short period (several days) and then completely inhibited. However, many pathologies are linked to uncontrolled, invasive angiogenesis: arthritis, a pathology due to the damaging of cartilage by invasive neovessels; diabetic retinopathy or the invasion of the retina by neovessels leading to blindness of patients; neovascularization of the ocular apparatus which is a major cause of blindness. This neovascularization is involved in about twenty different eye diseases. Moreover, the growth and metastasis of tumors which are linked directly to neovascularization are dependent on angiogenesis. The tumor stimulates the growth of neovessels by its own growth. Moreover, these neovessels are escape routes for tumors which thereby join up with the blood circulation and induce metastases in sites remote from the initial tumor focus, such as the liver, lungs or bones.

[0004] Angiogenesis, the formation of neovessels by endothelial cells, involves the migration, growth and differentiation of endothelial cells. Regulation of these biological phenomena is directly linked to genetic expression.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition that blocks angiogenesis including as active agent at least one substance selected from the group consisting of (i) a nucleic acid molecule of a gene coding for protein IRS-1, a complementary sequence or a fragment thereof and (ii) a molecule which inhibits expression of a nucleic acid molecule according to (i).

[0006] This invention also relates to a method of inhibiting angiogenesis including administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition.

[0007] This invention further relates to a method of treating retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, atherosclerosis, hyperstimulation of the ovary, psoriasis, endometritis associated with neovascularization, restenosis due to balloon angioplasty, tissue superproduction due to cicatrization, peripheral vascular diseased, hypertension, vascular inflammation, Raynaud's disease and Raynaud's phenomena, aneurysm, arterial restenosis, thrombophlebitis, lymphangitis, lymphedema, tissue cicatrization and repair, ischemia, angina, myocardial infraction, chronic heart disease, congestive heart failure, age-related macular degeneration or osteoporosis including administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition.

[0008] This invention still further relates to a method of diagnosing pathologies linked to angiogenesis including contacting a composition containing an active agent including at least one substance selected from the group consisting of (i) a nucleic acid molecule of a gene coding for protein IRS-1, a complementary sequence or a fragment thereof and (ii) a molecule which inhibits expression of a nucleic acid molecule according to (i) and target cells in a condition sufficient to permit inhibition of IRS-1 gene expression; measuring expression of the IRS-1 protein by the cells; and comparing expression of the protein measured before and after hybridization to measure inhibition of the expression.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will become clear from the examples below in which the term “oligonucleotide” is used to designate the oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO. 3 and which refer to the attached figures in which:

[0010]FIG. 1A is a Western Blot of images obtained from supernatant samples stemming from unstimulated cells (track NS) and cells stimulated with bFGF (track S) developed with an anti-IRS-1 antibody,

[0011]FIG. 1B is a Western Blot of images obtained after staining with silver nitrate obtained from the same supernatant samples stemming from unstimulated cells (track NS) and cells stimulated with bFGF (track S),

[0012]FIG. 2 is a Western Blot of images obtained from supernatant cells stemming from unstimulated cells (track NS) and cells stimulated with bFGF (track B) when the membrane is incubated with an anti-phosphotyrosine monoclonal antibody and developed with an anti-isotope antibody tagged at the peroxidase as indicated in Example 3,

[0013]FIGS. 3A to 3D show the images of the cultures on a type I collagen surface of the different lots of endothelial cells:

[0014]FIG. 3A shows the culture of untreated endothelial cells,

[0015]FIG. 3B shows the culture of endothelial cells stimulated with 3 ng/ml of bFGF,

[0016]FIG. 3C shows the culture of endothelial cells incubated with 100 μg/ml of oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO. 3 for 4 hours and then stimulated with 3 ng/ml of bFGF,

[0017]FIG. 3D shows the culture of endothelial cells incubated with 100 μg/ml of oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO. 3 for 4 hours,

[0018]FIGS. 4A to 4F illustrate the results of tests of the inhibition of corneal neovascularization in rats:

[0019]FIG. 4A shows the results obtained by subconjunctival injection of an antisense oligonucleotide at a concentration of 60 μm,

[0020]FIG. 4B shows the results obtained after subconjunctival injection of a sense oligonucleotide at a concentration of 60 μm,

[0021]FIG. 4C shows the results obtained after topical application of an antisense oligonucleotide at a concentration of 200 μm,

[0022]FIG. 4D shows the results obtained after topical application of a sense oligonucleotide at a concentration of 200 μm,

[0023]FIG. 4E illustrates the state of the cornea in the absence of any treatment,

[0024]FIG. 4F illustrates the state of the cornea when treated with subconjunctival injections of PBS,

[0025]FIGS. 5A to 5J illustrate the results of the inhibition of corneal neovascularization obtained in different groups of rats after de-epithelialization and limbic resection of the corneas of the rats on day 4 (FIGS. 5A to 5E) and on day 9 (FIGS. 5F to 5J). These are slit lamp photographs showing the comparison of the growth of the vessels in the various groups of rats. Enlargement x10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Our work performed in the framework of this invention made it possible to identify and prepare nucleic acid sequences involved in the regulation of angiogenesis.

[0027] Other studies pertaining to angiogenesis have shown a noteworthy expression and phosphorylation at the level of a tyrosine residue of an intracellular 180-kDa protein by endothelial cells cultured on a surface of type I collagen and stimulated by an angiogenic factor such as bFGF. The noteworthy expression and phosphorylation at the level of the tyrosine residue of the intracellular 180-kDa protein accompanies the formation of capillary tubes by the endothelial cells.

[0028] That protein is already known as a substrate of the insulin receptor (called IRS-1). It has been partially identified and investigated by certain diabetes researchers (Quon et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1994), 269 (45), 27920-27924). Those authors studied the role of IRS-1 in (i) the translocation of GLUT 4 stimulated by insulin and (ii) the transport of glucose in rat adipose cells. In order to do this, they constructed a plasmid containing:

[0029] a double chain oligonucleotide obtained from the sense oligonucleotide of the following sequence SEQ ID NO. ID No. 1: 5′-TCGATGTGAC GCTACTGATG AGTCCGTGAG GACGAAACTC TGGCCTAG-3′ and

[0030] cDNA coding for human IRS-1, and transfected rat adipose cells with said plasmid.

[0031] Our work revealed that the expression of the protein IRS-1 is also induced in endothelial cells when those cells are stimulated by the angiogenic factor bFGF.

[0032] The invention thus pertains to a pharmaceutical composition active on angiogenesis phenomena comprising as active agent at least one substance selected from among:

[0033] (i) a nucleic acid molecule of the gene coding for the protein IRS-1, a complementary sequence or a fragment thereof, (ii) a molecule which inhibits the expression of a nucleic acid molecule according to (i).

[0034] In the framework of the invention, antisense oligonucleotides of the gene coding for this protein were prepared. These oligonucleotides have remarkable antiangiogenic and antitumor activities. They are therefore particularly useful in the treatment of diseases linked to invasive angiogenesis not controlled by gene therapy methods including administering to an individual a composition containing at least one of these oligonucleotides.

[0035] Thus, an oligonucleotide according to the invention is constituted by the following nucleotide sequence of formula SEQ ID NO. 2:

[0036] 5-TATCCGGAGGGCTCGCCATGCTGCTGCGGAGCAGA-3′,

[0037] a fragment thereof comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleotides or their derivative.

[0038] The invention pertains most particularly to an oligonucleotide constituted by one of the nucleotide sequences of formulas SEQ ID NO. 3 and 4 below: 5′-TATCCGGAGGGCTCGCCATGCTGCT-3′, 5′-TCGCCATGCTGCTGCGGAGCAGA-3′,

[0039] a fragment of these comprising at least 12 contiguous nucleotides or their derivative.

[0040] The term “derivative” is understood to mean a sequence capable of hybridizing under strict conditions with one of the sequences SEQ ID NO. 2, 3 or 4, or with a fragment of these of at least 12 contiguous nucleotides.

[0041] The following sequences can be cited as non-limiting examples of oligonucleotides according to the invention: SEQ ID NO. 5: 5′-TATCCGGAGGGCCTGCCATGCTGCT-3′, SEQ ID NO. 6: 5′-TATCCGGAGG GCCTGCCATG CTGC-3′, SEQ ID NO. 7: 5′-TATCCGGAGG GCCTGCCATG CTG-3′, SEQ ID NO. 8: 5′-TATCCGGAGG GCCTGCCATG CT-3′, SEQ ID NO. 9: 5′-TATCCGGAGG GCCTGCCATG C-3′, SEQ ID NO. 10: 5′-TATCCGGAGG GCCTGCCATG-3′, SEQ ID NO. 11: 5′-TATCCGGAGG GCCTGCCAT-3′, SEQ ID NO. 12: 5′-TATCCGGAGG GCCTGCCA-3′, SEQ ID NO. 13: 5′-TATCCGGAGG GCCTGCC-3′, SEQ ID NO. 14: 5′-TATCCGGAGG GCCTGC-3′, SEQ ID NO. 15: 5′-TATCCGGAGG GCCTG-3′, SEQ ID NO. 16: 5′-TATCCGGAGG GCCT-3′, SEQ ID NO. 17: 5′-TATCCGGAGG GCC-3′, SEQ ID NO. 18: 5′-TATCCGGAGG GC-3′, SEQ ID NO. 19: 5′-CCGGAGG GCCTGCCATG CTGCT-3′, SEQ ID NO. 20: 5′-GAGG GCCTGCCATG CTGCT-3′, SEQ ID NO. 21: 5′-G GCCTGCCATG CTGCT-3′, SEQ ID NO. 22: 5′-CTGCCATG CTGCT-3′. SEQ ID NO. 23: 5′-TGCCATG CTGCT-3′.

[0042] All or part of the phosphodiester bonds of the invention are advantageously protected. This protection is generally implemented via the chemical route using methods that are known by art. The phosphodiester bonds can be protected, for example, by a thiol or amine functional group or by a phenyl group.

[0043] The 5′- and/or 3′- ends of the oligonucleotides of the invention are also advantageously protected, for example, using the technique described above for protecting the phosphodiester bonds.

[0044] The oligonucleotides of the invention can be synthesized using conventional techniques that are known art, for example, using one of the DNA synthesizers marketed by various companies.

[0045] Although their mechanism of action has not been entirely elucidated, the oligonucleotides according to the invention inhibit the expression of the protein IRS-1 within endothelial cells. These oligonucleotides block the formation of neovessels by endothelial cells (i.e., they inhibit angiogenesis) and thus they inhibit the multiplication of tumor cells in mice.

[0046] The invention therefore also includes a pharmaceutical composition that inhibits the gene coding for the protein IRS-1 comprising at least one oligonucleotide complementary of a part of said gene or of a transcript of said gene.

[0047] The molecule capable of inhibiting the expression of a nucleic acid molecule of the gene coding for the protein IRS-1 is preferably an antisense sequence of the region coding the sequence identified under the number SEQ ID NO. 28. The antisense sequence advantageously comprises at least twelve contiguous nucleotides or their derivative.

[0048] More preferentially, the active agent capable of inhibiting the expression of a nucleic acid molecule coding for the protein IRS-1 of the composition of the invention is a nucleotide sequence selected from SEQ ID NO. 2 to SEQ ID NO. 23 comprising at least twelve contiguous nucleotides or their derivative.

[0049] Such a composition advantageously comprises as an active agent at least one oligonucleotide as defined above advantageously combined in said composition with an acceptable vehicle.

[0050] The research performed in the framework of the invention made it possible to demonstrate that the protein IRS-1 represents a cellular constituent which is essential in the angiogenesis process. In fact, inhibition of the expression of the protein IRS-1 by said antisense oligonucleotides leads to the inhibition of the formation of capillary tubes by endothelial cells.

[0051] The oligonucleotides according to the invention and the compositions containing them are thus antiangiogenic agents. They are also anti-cell-multiplication agents, particularly as antitumor agents, and consequently are particularly useful for the treatment of tumors. Thus, the invention includes the use of said oligonucleotides for the preparation of a composition intended for the treatment or prevention of pathologies linked to invasive, uncontrolled angiogenesis such as, as a nonlimitative example: the treatment of tumor vascularization, eye diseases linked to the neovascularization of the ocular apparatus such as retinopathies, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, atherosclerosis, hyperstimulation of the ovary, psoriasis, endometritis associated with neovascularization, restenosis due to balloon angioplasty, tissue superproduction due to cicatrization, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, vascular inflammation, Raynaud's disease and Raynaud's phenomena, aneurysm, arterial restenosis, thrombophlebitis, lymphangitis, lymphedema, tissue cicatrization and repair, ischemia, angina, myocardial infarction, chronic heart disease, cardiac insufficiencies such as congestive heart failure, age-related macular degeneration and osteoporosis.

[0052] The above pharmaceutical compositions are more particularly implemented in a manner such that they can be administered via the subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous or transdermal route, for example. For such administration, use is made of aqueous suspensions, isotonic saline solutions or sterile, injectable solutions containing pharmacologically compatible dispersion agents and/or wetting agents such as, for example, propylene glycol or butylene glycol.

[0053] The usual unit dose to be administered contains from about 0.001 mg to about 50 mg of active principle.

[0054] The oligonucleotides of the invention are also useful as research reagents, notably for the in vitro study of signalization routes involving the 180-kDa protein, for example, on tumor cells or non-tumor cells transfected by the oligonucleotides. They are also useful for the in vivo study of signalization routes involving the 180-kDa protein in a large number of physiological and pathological phenomena such as angiogenesis or carcinogenesis essentially from the kinase/phosphatase ratio.

[0055] Thus, the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are particularly useful for the performance of tests for the diagnosis of pathologies linked to angiogenesis phenomena, notably for the diagnosis of retinopathies, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, atherosclerosis, hyperstimulation of the ovary, psoriasis, endometritis association with neovascularization, restenosis due to balloon angioplasty, tissue superproduction due to cicatrization, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, vascular inflammation, Raynaud's disease and Raynaud's phenomena, aneurysm, arterial restenosis, thrombophlebitis, lymphangitis, lymphedema, tissue cicatrization and repair, ischemia, angina, myocardial infarction, chronic heart disease, cardiac insufficiencies such as congestive heart failure or age-linked macular degeneration and osteoporosis.

[0056] According to preferred aspects of the invention, the method of diagnosis comprises the follow steps:

[0057] contacting a composition containing an active agent including at least one substance selected from the group consisting of (i) a nucleic acid molecule of a gene coding for protein IRS-1, a complementary sequence or a fragment thereof and (ii) a molecule which inhibits expression of a nucleic acid molecule according to (i) and target cells in a condition sufficient to permit inhibition of IRS-1 gene expression;

[0058] measuring expression of the IRS-1 protein by the cells; and

[0059] comparing expression of the protein measured before and after hybridization to measure inhibition of the expression.

[0060] The condition sufficient to permit inhibition of the IRS-1 gene expression are known in the art. Measuring the expression of the IRS-1 protein may be performed by techniques known in the art such as, for example, recognition by antibodies.

EXAMPLE 1 Demonstration of the Induction of the Expression of IRS-1 (the 180-kDa Protein) in Endothelial Cells Resulting from the Stimulation of these Cells with bFGF

[0061] The 180-kDa protein was demonstrated in the following manner:

[0062] The endothelial cells were cultured in a 6-well microtitration plate previously covered with type I collagen as described in (Montesano et al., J. Cell. Biol., 1983, 83, 1648-1652). The culture medium was DMEM (Sigma) enriched with 10% of fetal calf serum, 4 mM glutamine, 500 U/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin. After 3 to 4 days of culture, there resulted a semi-confluent layer of endothelial cells. The culture medium of six wells was aspirated and replaced by fresh culture medium. Three wells were enriched with 3 ng/ml of bFGF. After incubation for 48 hours, the wells were washed three times with a phosphate buffer and the cells were used to extract the messenger RNA (mRNA) according to protocols known in the art. The mRNAs were reverse transcribed by a polymerization chain reaction (PCR) using each of four degenerated groups of oligo (dT) (T12MN) primers, M can be G, A or C; and N is G, A, T and C. Each group of primers is imposed by the base in position 3′(N) with a degeneration in the (M) position. Example: the set of primers in which N=G is constituted by: SEQ ID NO. 24: 5′-TTTTTTTTTTTTGG-3′ SEQ ID NO. 25: 5′-TTTTTTTTTTTTAG-3′ SEQ ID NO. 26: 5′-TTTTTTTTTTTTCG-3′.

[0063] The cDNAs obtained in this manner were amplified and tagged by means of an arbitrary decamer in the presence of isotopically tagged ATP. The electrophoresis analysis of the cDNAs revealed the presence of an amplified 326-bp cDNA fragment in the sample stemming from the endothelial cells stimulated with bFGF, identified in the attached sequence listing as number SEQ ID NO. 27. However, this same fragment is weakly present or present in the trace state in the sample stemming from the endothelial cells that were not stimulated with bFGF. The sequencing of this fragment and the subsequent interrogation of the databases revealed that this fragment corresponds to a part of an already known gene, coding for the substrate of the insulin receptor (an intracellular 180-kDa protein).

EXAMPLE 2 Demonstration of the Induction of the Expression of IRS-1 (the 180-kDa Protein)

[0064] Endothelial cells cultured on a layer of type I collagen stimulated or not stimulated with bFGF (cf. example 1) were lysed in a cellular lyse buffer containing sodium orthovanadate. These solutions were then clarified by centrifugation at 14,000 g for 15 minutes. Supernatant samples stemming from unstimulated cells and cells stimulated with bFGF containing equivalent amounts of proteins were then taken up with an electrophoresis solution containing 2% SDS and 15 mM of dithiothreitol, heated at 100° C. for 5 minutes then deposited on polyacrylamide gel (gradient from 4 to 15% of acrylamide) under denatured conditions (in the presence of 2% SDS). After migration, the proteins were transferred onto a nitrocellulose membrane. The membrane was blocked by incubation at ambient temperature in a 5% milk solution in a PBS buffer. The membrane was then washed three times with a PBS buffer, incubated in a PBS buffer containing 1 μg/ml of anti-IRS-1 monoclonal antibody for 2 hours at ambient temperature and washed three times with a PBS buffer. The proteins were then developed with a secondary anti-isotope antibody coupled to peroxidase. The presence was noted of a protein of molecular weight 180 kDa recognized by the monoclonal anti-IRS-1 antibody in the preparations stemming from the endothelial cells stimulated with bFGF; this protein was weakly present in the preparation stemming from the endothelial cells not simulated with bFGF (FIG. 1).

EXAMPLE 3 Demonstration of the Induction of Phosphorylation at the Level of IRS-1 Tyrosine (the 180-kDa Protein).

[0065] Human endothelial cells cultured on a layer of type I collagen stimulated or not stimulated with bFGF were lysed in a cellular lyse buffer containing sodium orthovanadate. These solutions were then clarified by centrifugation at 14,000 g for 15 minutes (cf. example 2). The IRS-1 protein was extracted by means of an anti-IRS-1 monoclonal antibody. This extraction was performed after immunoprecipitation by means of an anti-IRS-1 monoclonal antibody (Sigma). After addition of the anti-IRS-1 antibody coupled to agarose, the suspension was incubated for 2 hours at ambient temperature then centrifuged at 4000 g for 15 minutes. The resultant precipitate was taken up with an electrophoresis solution containing 2% SDS and 15 mM of dithiothreitol, heated at 100° C. for 5 minutes, then deposited on polyacrylamide gel (acrylamide gradient of 4 to 15%) under denaturing conditions (in the presence of 2% SDS). After migration, the proteins were transferred onto a nitrocellulose membrane. The membrane was blocked by incubation at ambient temperature in a 5% milk solution in a PBS buffer. The membrane was then washed three times with a PBS buffer, incubated in a PBS buffer containing 1 μg/ml of anti-phosphotyrosine monoclonal antibody for 2 hours at ambient temperature, and then washed three times with a PBS buffer. The proteins were then developed by means of a secondary anti-isotope antibody coupled to peroxidase. It was found that the IRS-1 protein of molecular weight 180 kDa was phosphorylated at the level of the tyrosine residue in the preparations stemming from the endothelial cells stimulated with bFGF; this protein was very weakly phosphorylated at the level of the tyrosine residue in the preparation stemming from the endothelial cells not stimulated with bFGF (FIG. 2).

EXAMPLE 4 Evaluation of the In Vitro Antiangiogenic Activity of the Oligonucleotide

[0066] Human endothelial cells were cultured on a layer of type I collagen. The culture wells were divided into four lots on the seventh day of culture:

[0067] Lot 1: Wells corresponding to the culture of untreated endothelial cells (FIG. 3A).

[0068] Lot 2: Wells corresponding to the culture of endothelial cells stimulated with 3 ng/ml of bFGF (FIG. 3B).

[0069] Lot 3: Wells corresponding to the culture of endothelial cells incubated with 100 μg/ml of oligonucleotide of SEQ ID NO. 3 for 4 hours then stimulated with 3 ng/ml of bFGF (FIG. 3C).

[0070] Lot 4: Wells corresponding to the culture of endothelial cells incubated with 100 μg/ml of oligonucleotide of sequence SEQ ID NO. 3 for 4 hours (FIG. 3D).

[0071] The various wells were examined by means of an inverted phase optical microscope after 3 to 4 days of culture. Upon reading the results, it was found that the human endothelial cells in lot 2 formed capillary tubes following stimulation with bFGF. It was also found that the oligonucleotide inhibits the formation of neovessels by these same cells stimulated with bFGF in lot 3. Finally, it was found that that the oligonucleotide does not modify in a pronounced manner the growth of the endothelial cells. In fact, the numbers of endothelial cells in the lot 1 wells and in the lot 4 wells were comparable.

EXAMPLE 5 Evaluation of the In Vivo Activity of the Oligonucleotide

[0072] Three lots of naked mice were used. Each lot was constituted by 5 mice.

[0073] Lot no. 1: This lot was used as control. Each mouse was inoculated on day 0 with 200 μl of a suspension of B16 melanoma cells (provided by Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif) dispersed in PBS at the level of 10⁶ cells/ml. These mice did not receive subsequent treatment.

[0074] Lot no. 2: Each mouse was inoculated subcutaneously on day 0 with 200 μl of a suspension of B 16 melanoma cells dispersed in PBS at the level of 10⁶ cells/ml. On day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5, day 6, day 7, day 8, day 9 and day 10 each mouse received a subcutaneous injection of 200 μl of an oligonucleotide solution diluted in PBS at a concentration of 500 μg/ml. The oligonucleotide injection was performed close to the cell injection site.

[0075] Lot no. 3: The mice of this lot were not inoculated with the B16 melanoma cells. However, each of the mice received an injection of 200 μl of an oligonucleotide solution in PBS at a concentration of 500 μg/ml; the injections were performed on day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5, day 6, day 7, day 8, day 9 and day 10.

[0076] The following results were obtained:

[0077] In the mice of lot no. 1, the tumor mass developed very rapidly after inoculation. In fact, the tumor mass reached a size of 1.6 to 2.5 cm in diameter after ten days in the mice of said lot no. 1 (untreated mice). The evolution of the tumor mass in the mice of lot no. 2 (mice treated after inoculation by injection of oligonucleotide on day 1, day 2 and day 3), exhibited a clearly lower increase in the volume of the tumor mass. The tumor mass in the mice of lot 2 did not exceed 0.8 cm in diameter on the tenth day. On the fourteenth day, the difference between the tumor mass of the mice of lot no. 2 and those of lot no. 1 was remarkable.

[0078] In the mice of lot no. 3 (mice not having received B 16 melanoma cells but treated by injection of oligonucleotide for three days), an unexpected general effect was observed on the skin. It was identical to that observed on all of the mice treated with the oligonucleotide (lot 2). The skin had an aged, crumpled appearance. The emergence of hairs was also observed on all of the treated mice. There was a parallelism during the evolution between the regression of the cutaneous signs and the resumption of tumor growth.

[0079] Thus, it was found that the oligonucleotide inhibits the development and formation of neovessels by endothelial cells in vitro. The oligonucleotide also has a remarkable in vivo antitumor activity in the naked mouse.

EXAMPLE 6 Evaluation of the Antiangiogenic Oligonucleotide on a Corneal Neovascularization Model in the Rat.

[0080] We employed, modified and analyzed a model of the formation of corneal neovessels in the rat after de-epithelialization and limbectomy (FIGS. 5A to 5J). It is reproducible, allows direct slit-lamp examination and quantification of the neovessels. The details are described below. The model was then used for testing the efficacy of the antiangiogenic agents of the invention.

[0081] Animals and Corneal Neovascularization Model

[0082] Male Wister rats (Rattus norvegicus), aged five weeks (Charles River France, St-Aubin les Elbeufs, France), free of specific pathogens, were fed and allowed to drink water freely, and maintained in the laboratory animal facility under fixed temperature and humidity conditions, with cycles of 12 hours of light/12 hours of darkness.

[0083] The rats were anesthetized with a mixture of ketamine (Kétamine 1000, UVA, Ivry-sur-Seine, France; 128 mg/kg) and chlorpromazine (Largactil 25 mg/ml; Specia Rhône Poulenc, Paris, France; 5 mg/kg), injected via the intramuscular route. A drop of oxybuprocaine (Novésine, Chibret, Clermont-Ferrand, France) was instilled in the right eye. Using an enlargement system (macroscope Wild MPS 51 S, LEICA, Heerbrugg, Switzerland), the corneal epithelium was removed by a microsponge impregnated with 70% ethanol. A 1.5-mm band of conjunctiva, at the limbus, was excised with microsurgical scissors, and the eyelids were closed by a temporary blepharorraphy with a Vicryl 5.0 thread (Dacron, Alcon, Rueil-Malmaison, France). The eye was then rinsed abundantly with 1×PBS, an oxytetracycline cream was applied (Posicycline, Alcon, France) and the blepharorraphy was opened on the fourth day [8, 9]. Treatment by subconjunctival injections and topical applications of antiangiogenic oligonucleotide

[0084] The rats were divided into 6 groups:

[0085] Group A: model+subconjunctival injection of a 60-μM antisense oligonucleotide solution in 1×PBS, Group B: model+topical application of a 200-μM antisense oligonucleotide solution in 1×PBS, Group C: model+subconjunctival injection of a 60-μM sense oligonucleotide solution in 1×PBS, Group D: model+topical application of a 200-μM sense oligonucleotide solution in 1×PBS, Group E: model+subcutaneous injection of 1×PBS, Group F: model without treatment.

[0086] All of the rats were subjected to de-epithelialization as described above; the treatment was performed every 24 hours starting on the fourth day and continuing until the ninth day. Neovascularization was examined at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the protocol by slit-lamp examination; photographs were taken on day 0 and day 9.

[0087] Visualization and quantification of the neovascularization

[0088] The animals were euthanized 10 days after the de-epithelialization by lethal injection of pentobarbital (intraperitoneal injection). In order to fill the microvessels and quantify the corneal neovascularization, the upper part of the animals' bodies were perfused with fluorescein-dextran 2×1,000,000. The eyes were enucleated and immersed in paraformaldehyde/1×PBS 4% for 3 hours, then overnight in 1×PBS. The cornea was then isolated with 1 mm of limbus under surgical microscope and inserted in the flat state between plate and cover by means of 3 to 5 radial incisions. The flat corneas were then examined and photographed using fluorescence microscopy. After the whole corneas were reconstituted, they were scanned and the surfaces were measured by image analysis; a software program (NIH image) was used for the quantification of the neovascularization. For each photo, the total corneal surface was measured three times as was the neovascularized surface; the ratio of the means—neovascularized surface/total corneal surface—was used to obtain the percentage of neovascularization and to measure the inhibition obtained.

[0089] Statistical analysis

[0090] The results were expressed as means±SD. The percentages of neovascularized surface/total surface were compared with the nonparametric test of Mann-Whitney. Values of P <0.05 were considered to be significant.

[0091] Dilution of the oligonucleotide

[0092] The oligonucleotide was diluted in 1×PBS at pH 7.2. Based on the data in the literature and the experiments performed with other oligonucleotides, it was decided to use a concentration of 60 μM for the subconjunctival injections and a concentration of 200 μM for the topical applications.

[0093] Results

[0094] Using the model of corneal neovessels, treatment was performed with the 5′-TATCCGGAGGGCTCGCCATGCTGCT-3′ oligonucleotides identified under SEQ ID NO. 3 in the attached sequence listing modified in phosphorothioate form, daily, from day 4 to day 9, according to the following protocol:

[0095] Group A: subconjunctival injection of the antisense oligonucleotide at 60 μM (AS 60),

[0096] Group B: topical application of the antisense oligonucleotide at 200 μM (AS 200),

[0097] Group C: subconjunctival injection of the sense oligonucleotide at 60 μM (S 60),

[0098] Group D: topical application of the sense oligonucleotide at 200 μM (S 200),

[0099] Group E: subconjunctival injection of 1×PBS (PBS),

[0100] Group F: no treatment (0 Tt).

[0101] On the tenth day of the protocol, the rats were perfused with a solution of FITC/dextran and then euthanized. The corneas were collected and fixed in a 4% PAF solution. The corneas were then inserted in the flat state between plate and cover in a glycerol solution. The fluorescent neovessels were observed and photographed using the fluorescence microscope. The photographs were scanned and the neovascularization percentages were measured for each animal.

[0102] The results observed are presented in Table 1 below: TABLE 1 Group A Group B Group C Group D Group E Group F AS 60 AS 200 S 60 S 200 PBS 0 Tt Mean 0.6157 0.5058 0.9431 0.9392 0.9552 9.9170 SD 0.2194 0.1172 0.0964 0.0308 0.0481 0.0751 Number 15 15 15 12 9 9 of measurements SEM 0.0566 0.0303 0.0249 0.0089 0.0160 0.0250

[0103] The statistical analysis of the results using a nonparametric Mann-Whitney test yielded the following results:

[0104] The subconjunctival injections of 60-μM of the antisense oligonucleotide (A) reduced neovascularization in relation to the control groups E and F (very significant results, P<0.0001 and P=0.0011); topical application of the antisense oligonucleotide at a concentration of 200 μM (B) reduced neovascularization in relation to the control groups E and F (extremely significant results, P<0.0001).

[0105] Compared to the subconjunctival administration of the sense oligonucleotide at 60 μM (C) or the topical application of the sense oligonucleotide at 200 μM (D), injection of the antisense oligonucleotide at 60 μM (A) and topical application of the antisense oligonucleotide at 200 μM (B) reduced neovascularization. These results were extremely significant (P<0.0001) (FIGS. 4A to 4F).

[0106] The inhibition of neovascularization was not significantly different depending on whether the antisense oligonucleotide was administered via the subconjunctival route (60 μM) or applied topically (200 μM). It was approximately 35% in relation to the controls (E and F).

[0107] The subconjunctival injection of the sense oligonucleotide at 60 μM (C) and the topical application of the sense oligonucleotide at a concentration of 200 μM (D) did not modify the neovascularization in relation to the control groups (E and F). In contrast, there was a small effect of the sense oligonucleotide in topical application (D) compared to the sense oligonucleotide in subconjunctival injections (C) (P=0.0117).

[0108] Moreover, there was seen in the groups treated with the antisense oligonucleotide (A and B), a smaller diameter and density of the neovessels. Their distribution did not differ in relation to the control groups nor was any difference observed in relation to the level of inflammation (FIG. 4).

[0109] Secondary effects

[0110] No noteworthy secondary effects were seen in any of the groups during the two experimental series: after 6 days of treatment at the doses specified above, the skin of the rats was not crumpled, the fur was unchanged and the general condition of the animals was good; they fed normally until the last day and no suspicious mortality was observed. Although neither autopsies nor blood tests were performed, the general status of the animals at the end of the experiments did not suggest hepatic disorders. The only symptom observed was a transitory whitish deposit at the site of the conjunctival injections in 60% of the rats of group A, 60% of the rats of group C and 10% of the rats of group E. This deposit had been resorbed by the end of the experiments in all cases.

[0111] This example shows that—contrary to expectations—the subcutaneous injections of antisense oligonucleotide at a concentration of 60 μM did not inhibit neovascularization to a greater extent than the topical application of the antisense oligonucleotide at a concentration of 200 μM.

[0112] This can perhaps be explained by the difference in the concentrations employed; but this results suggests also a penetration of the oligonucleotide via the topical route rather than via the limbus. It also suggests the absence of prolonged release of the product from the injection site.

CONCLUSION

[0113] The application of the antisense oligonucleotide via the topical route or in subconjunctival injections reduces neovascularization in our model of corneal neovessels in the rat.

[0114] The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of the antisense oligonucleotides stemming from the sequence of the gene IRS-1 on a previously developed model of corneal neovascularization in the rat.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[0115] 1. Aiello LP. Keeping in touch with angiogenesis. Nat Med 2000; 6: 379-381.

[0116] 2. D'Amore PA. Mechanisms of Retinal and Choroidal Neovascularization. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1994; 35(12): 3974-3979.

[0117] 3. Hélène C. Rational design of sequence-specific oncogene inhibitors based on antisense and antigene oligonucleotides. Eur J Cancer 1991; 27: 1466-1471.

[0118] 4. Agrawal S, Bunnel BA, Crooke ST, Davidkova G, Gyurko R, Iyer K et al. Antisense oligonucleotides and antisense RNA. Benjamin Weiss edition (Philadelphia, USA) 1997; 1-11, 19-40.

[0119] 5. Pierga JY, Cammilleri S, Benyahia B, Magdelénat H. Applications of antisense oligonucleotides in cancer research. Bull Cancer 1994; 81: 1023-1042.

[0120] 6. Robinson GS, Pierce EA, Rook SL, Foley E, Webb R, Smith LEH. Oligodeoxynucleotides inhibit retinal neovascularization in a murine model of proliferative retinopathy. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1996; 93: 4851-4856.

[0121] 7. Aiello LP. Vascular endothelial growth factor. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1997; 38: 1647-1652.

[0122] 8. Amano S, Rohan R, Kuroki M, Tolentino M, Adamis AP. Requirement for vascular endothelial growth factor in wound and inflammation-related corneal neovascularization. Invest Opthalmol Vis Sci 1998; 39: 18-22.

[0123] 9. Hoang-Xuan T, Prisant O. Restoration of corneal epithelium from limbic stem cells. Med Sci 1998; 14: 1375-1377.

[0124] 10. Parry TJ, Cushman C, Gallegos AM, Agrawal AB, Richardson M, Andres LE et al. Bioactivity of antiangiogenic ribozymes targeting Flt-1 and KDR mRNA. Nucleic Acids Research 1999; 27: 2569-2577.

[0125] 11. Ozaki H, Seo MS, Ozaki K, Yamada H, Yamada E, Okamoto N et al. Blockade of vascular endothelial cell growth factor receptor signaling is sufficient to completely prevent retinal neovascularization. Am J Pathol 2000; 156: 697-707.

[0126] 12. Berdugo Polak M. Iontophoresis administration of antisense oligonucleotides in the anterior segment of the eye: application to a corneal neovascularization model in the rat. DEA “Biology and Pathology of the Epithelia”; University of Paris VII, Feldmann G; Inserm U450, Director Courtois Y, under the direction of Behar Cohen F. 2000.

1 29 1 48 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(48) Sense oligonucleotide 1 tcgatgtgac gctactgatg agtccgtgag gacgaaactc tggcctag 48 2 35 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(35) Antisense oligonucleotide. 2 tatccggagg gctcgccatg ctgctgcgga gcaga 35 3 25 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(25) Antisense oligonucleotide. 3 tatccggagg gctcgccatg ctgct 25 4 23 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(23) Antisense oligonucleotide. 4 tcgccatgct gctgcggagc aga 23 5 25 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(25) Antisense oligonucleotide. 5 tatccggagg gcctgccatg ctgct 25 6 24 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(24) Antisense oligonucleotide. 6 tatccggagg gcctgccatg ctgc 24 7 23 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(23) Antisense oligonucleotide. 7 tatccggagg gcctgccatg ctg 23 8 22 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(22) Antisense oligonucleotide. 8 tatccggagg gcctgccatg ct 22 9 21 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(21) Antisense oligonucleotide. 9 tatccggagg gcctgccatg c 21 10 20 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(20) Antisense oligonucleotide. 10 tatccggagg gcctgccatg 20 11 19 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(19) Antisense oligonucleotide. 11 tatccggagg gcctgccat 19 12 18 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(18) Antisense oligonucleotide. 12 tatccggagg gcctgcca 18 13 17 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(17) Antisense oligonucleotide. 13 tatccggagg gcctgcc 17 14 16 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(16) Antisense oligonucleotide. 14 tatccggagg gcctgc 16 15 15 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(15) Antisense oligonucleotide. 15 tatccggagg gcctg 15 16 14 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(14) Antisense oligonucleotide. 16 tatccggagg gcct 14 17 13 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(13) Antisense oligonucleotide. 17 tatccggagg gcc 13 18 12 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(12) Ologonucleotide anti-sens. 18 tatccggagg gc 12 19 22 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(22) Antisense oligonucleotide. 19 ccggagggcc tgccatgctg ct 22 20 19 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(19) Oigonucleotide anti-sens. 20 gagggcctgc catgctgct 19 21 16 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(16) Antisense oligonucleotide. 21 ggcctgccat gctgct 16 22 13 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(13) Antisense oligonucleotide. 22 ctgccatgct gct 13 23 12 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(12) Antisense oligonucleotide. 23 tgccatgctg ct 12 24 14 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(14) Antisense oligonucleotide; 24 tttttttttt ttgg 14 25 14 DNA Artificial Sequence. misc_feature (1)..(14) Antisense oligonucleotide. 25 tttttttttt ttag 14 26 14 DNA Artificial Sequence misc_feature (1)..(14) Antisense oligonucleotide. 26 tttttttttt ttcg 14 27 326 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature (1)..(326) IRS-1 gene fragment coding for insulin receptor substrat 27 gtgccgagct gagttcctta taagaattaa tcttaatttt gtattttttc ctgtaagaca 60 ataggccatg ttaattaaac tgaagaagga tatatttggc tgggtgtttt caaatgtcag 120 cttaaaattg gtaattgaat ggaagcaaaa ttataagaag aggaaattaa agtcttccat 180 tgcatgtatt gtaaacagaa ggagatgggt gattccttca attcaaaagc tctctttgga 240 atgaacaatg tgggcgtttg taaattctgg aaatgtcttt ctattcataa taaactagat 300 actgttgatc ttttaaaaaa aaaaaa 326 28 5800 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (1022)..(4750) 28 cggcggcgcg gtcggagggg gccggcgcgc agagccagac gccgccgctt gttttggttg 60 gggctctcgg caactctccg aggaggagga ggaggaggga ggaggggaga agtaactgca 120 gcggcagcgc ctcccgagga acaggcgtct tccccgaacc cttcccaaac ctcccccatc 180 ccctctcgcc cttgtcccct cccctcctcc ccagccgcct ggagcgaggg gcagggatga 240 gtctgtccct ccggccggtc cccagctgca gtggctgccc ggtatcgttt cgcatggaaa 300 agccactttc tccacccgcc gagatgggcc cggatggggg ctgcagagga cgcgcccgcg 360 ggcggcggca gcagcagcag cagcagcagc agcaacagca acagccgcag cgccgcggtc 420 tctgcgactg agctggtatt tgggcggctg gtggcggctg ggacggttgg ggggtgggag 480 gaggcgaagg aggagggaga accccgtgca acgttgggac ttggcaaccc gcctccccct 540 gcccaaggat atttaatttg cctcgggaat cgctgcttcc agaggggaac tcaggaggga 600 aggcgcgcgc gcgcgcgcgc tcctggaggg gcaccgcagg gacccccgac tgtcgcctcc 660 ctgtgccgga ctccagccgg ggcgacgaga gatgcatctt cgctccttcc tggtggcggc 720 ggcggctgag aggagacttg gctctcggag gatcggggct gccctcaccc cggacgcact 780 gcctccccgc cgggcgtgaa gcgcccgaaa actccggtcg ggctctctcc tgggctcagc 840 agctgcgtcc tccttcagct gcccctcccc ggcgcggggg gcggcgtgga tttcagagtc 900 ggggtttctg ctgcctccag ccctgtttgc atgtgccggg ccgcggcgag gagcctccgc 960 cccccacccg gttgtttttc ggagcctccc tctgctcagc gttggtggtg gcggtggcag 1020 c atg gcg agc cct ccg gag agc gat ggc ttc tcg gac gtg cgc aag gtg 1069 Met Ala Ser Pro Pro Glu Ser Asp Gly Phe Ser Asp Val Arg Lys Val 1 5 10 15 ggc tac ctg cgc aaa ccc aag agc atg cac aaa cgc ttc ttc gta ctg 1117 Gly Tyr Leu Arg Lys Pro Lys Ser Met His Lys Arg Phe Phe Val Leu 20 25 30 cgc gcg gcc agc gag gct ggg ggc ccg gcg cgc ctc gag tac tac gag 1165 Arg Ala Ala Ser Glu Ala Gly Gly Pro Ala Arg Leu Glu Tyr Tyr Glu 35 40 45 aac gag aag aag tgg cgg cac aag tcg agc gcc ccc aaa cgc tcg atc 1213 Asn Glu Lys Lys Trp Arg His Lys Ser Ser Ala Pro Lys Arg Ser Ile 50 55 60 ccc ctt gag agc tgc ttc aac atc aac aag cgg gct gac tcc aag aac 1261 Pro Leu Glu Ser Cys Phe Asn Ile Asn Lys Arg Ala Asp Ser Lys Asn 65 70 75 80 aag cac ctg gtg gct ctc tac acc cgg gac gag cac ttt gcc atc gcg 1309 Lys His Leu Val Ala Leu Tyr Thr Arg Asp Glu His Phe Ala Ile Ala 85 90 95 gcg gac agc gag gcc gag caa gac agc tgg tac cag gct ctc cta cag 1357 Ala Asp Ser Glu Ala Glu Gln Asp Ser Trp Tyr Gln Ala Leu Leu Gln 100 105 110 ctg cac aac cgt gct aag ggc cac cac gac gga gct gcg gcc ctc ggg 1405 Leu His Asn Arg Ala Lys Gly His His Asp Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Gly 115 120 125 gcg gga ggt ggt ggg ggc agc tgc agc ggc agc tcc ggc ctt ggt gag 1453 Ala Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Cys Ser Gly Ser Ser Gly Leu Gly Glu 130 135 140 gct ggg gag gac ttg agc tac ggt gac gtg ccc cca gga ccc gca ttc 1501 Ala Gly Glu Asp Leu Ser Tyr Gly Asp Val Pro Pro Gly Pro Ala Phe 145 150 155 160 aaa gag gtc tgg caa gtg atc ctg aag ccc aag ggc ctg ggt cag aca 1549 Lys Glu Val Trp Gln Val Ile Leu Lys Pro Lys Gly Leu Gly Gln Thr 165 170 175 aag aac ctg att ggt atc tac cgc ctt tgc ctg acc agc aag acc atc 1597 Lys Asn Leu Ile Gly Ile Tyr Arg Leu Cys Leu Thr Ser Lys Thr Ile 180 185 190 agc ttc gtg aag ctg aac tcg gag gca gcg gcc gtg gtg ctg cag ctg 1645 Ser Phe Val Lys Leu Asn Ser Glu Ala Ala Ala Val Val Leu Gln Leu 195 200 205 atg aac atc agg cgc tgt ggc cac tcg gaa aac ttc ttc ttc atc gag 1693 Met Asn Ile Arg Arg Cys Gly His Ser Glu Asn Phe Phe Phe Ile Glu 210 215 220 gtg ggc cgt tct gcc gtg acg ggg ccc ggg gag ttc tgg atg cag gtg 1741 Val Gly Arg Ser Ala Val Thr Gly Pro Gly Glu Phe Trp Met Gln Val 225 230 235 240 gat gac tct gtg gtg gcc cag aac atg cac gag acc atc ctg gag gcc 1789 Asp Asp Ser Val Val Ala Gln Asn Met His Glu Thr Ile Leu Glu Ala 245 250 255 atg cgg gcc atg agt gat gag ttc cgc cct cgc agc aag agc cag tcc 1837 Met Arg Ala Met Ser Asp Glu Phe Arg Pro Arg Ser Lys Ser Gln Ser 260 265 270 tcg tcc aac tgc tct aac ccc atc agc gtc ccc ctg cgc cgg cac cat 1885 Ser Ser Asn Cys Ser Asn Pro Ile Ser Val Pro Leu Arg Arg His His 275 280 285 ctc aac aat ccc ccg ccc agc cag gtg ggg ctg acc cgc cga tca cgc 1933 Leu Asn Asn Pro Pro Pro Ser Gln Val Gly Leu Thr Arg Arg Ser Arg 290 295 300 act gag agc atc acc gcc acc tcc ccg gcc agc atg gtg ggc ggg aag 1981 Thr Glu Ser Ile Thr Ala Thr Ser Pro Ala Ser Met Val Gly Gly Lys 305 310 315 320 cca ggc tcc ttc cgt gtc cgc gcc tcc agt gac ggc gaa ggc acc atg 2029 Pro Gly Ser Phe Arg Val Arg Ala Ser Ser Asp Gly Glu Gly Thr Met 325 330 335 tcc cgc cca gcc tcg gtg gac ggc agc cct gtg agt ccc agc acc aac 2077 Ser Arg Pro Ala Ser Val Asp Gly Ser Pro Val Ser Pro Ser Thr Asn 340 345 350 aga acc cac gcc cac cgg cat cgg ggc agc gcc cgg ctg cac ccc ccg 2125 Arg Thr His Ala His Arg His Arg Gly Ser Ala Arg Leu His Pro Pro 355 360 365 ctc aac cac agc cgc tcc atc ccc atg ccg gct tcc cgc tgc tcg cct 2173 Leu Asn His Ser Arg Ser Ile Pro Met Pro Ala Ser Arg Cys Ser Pro 370 375 380 tcg gcc acc agc ccg gtc agt ctg tcg tcc agt agc acc agt ggc cat 2221 Ser Ala Thr Ser Pro Val Ser Leu Ser Ser Ser Ser Thr Ser Gly His 385 390 395 400 ggc tcc acc tcg gat tgt ctc ttc cca cgg cga tct agt gct tcg gtg 2269 Gly Ser Thr Ser Asp Cys Leu Phe Pro Arg Arg Ser Ser Ala Ser Val 405 410 415 tct ggt tcc ccc agc gat ggc ggt ttc atc tcc tcg gat gag tat ggc 2317 Ser Gly Ser Pro Ser Asp Gly Gly Phe Ile Ser Ser Asp Glu Tyr Gly 420 425 430 tcc agt ccc tgc gat ttc cgg agt tcc ttc cgc agt gtc act ccg gat 2365 Ser Ser Pro Cys Asp Phe Arg Ser Ser Phe Arg Ser Val Thr Pro Asp 435 440 445 tcc ctg ggc cac acc cca cca gcc cgc ggt gag gag gag cta agc aac 2413 Ser Leu Gly His Thr Pro Pro Ala Arg Gly Glu Glu Glu Leu Ser Asn 450 455 460 tat atc tgc atg ggt ggc aag ggg ccc tcc acc ctg acc gcc ccc aac 2461 Tyr Ile Cys Met Gly Gly Lys Gly Pro Ser Thr Leu Thr Ala Pro Asn 465 470 475 480 ggt cac tac att ttg tct cgg ggt ggc aat ggc cac cgc tgc acc cca 2509 Gly His Tyr Ile Leu Ser Arg Gly Gly Asn Gly His Arg Cys Thr Pro 485 490 495 gga aca ggc ttg ggc acg agt cca gcc ttg gct ggg gat gaa gca gcc 2557 Gly Thr Gly Leu Gly Thr Ser Pro Ala Leu Ala Gly Asp Glu Ala Ala 500 505 510 agt gct gca gat ctg gat aat cgg ttc cga aag aga act cac tcg gca 2605 Ser Ala Ala Asp Leu Asp Asn Arg Phe Arg Lys Arg Thr His Ser Ala 515 520 525 ggc aca tcc cct acc att acc cac cag aag acc ccg tcc cag tcc tca 2653 Gly Thr Ser Pro Thr Ile Thr His Gln Lys Thr Pro Ser Gln Ser Ser 530 535 540 gtg gct tcc att gag gag tac aca gag atg atg cct gcc tac cca cca 2701 Val Ala Ser Ile Glu Glu Tyr Thr Glu Met Met Pro Ala Tyr Pro Pro 545 550 555 560 gga ggt ggc agt gga ggc cga ctg ccg gga cac agg cac tcc gcc ttc 2749 Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Arg Leu Pro Gly His Arg His Ser Ala Phe 565 570 575 gtg ccc acc cgc tcc tac cca gag gag ggt ctg gaa atg cac ccc ttg 2797 Val Pro Thr Arg Ser Tyr Pro Glu Glu Gly Leu Glu Met His Pro Leu 580 585 590 gag cgt cgg ggg ggg cac cac cgc cca gac agc tcc acc ctc cac acg 2845 Glu Arg Arg Gly Gly His His Arg Pro Asp Ser Ser Thr Leu His Thr 595 600 605 gat gat ggc tac atg ccc atg tcc cca ggg gtg gcc cca gtg ccc agt 2893 Asp Asp Gly Tyr Met Pro Met Ser Pro Gly Val Ala Pro Val Pro Ser 610 615 620 ggc cga aag ggc agt gga gac tat atg ccc atg agc ccc aag agc gta 2941 Gly Arg Lys Gly Ser Gly Asp Tyr Met Pro Met Ser Pro Lys Ser Val 625 630 635 640 tct gcc cca cag cag atc atc aat ccc atc aga cgc cat ccc cag aga 2989 Ser Ala Pro Gln Gln Ile Ile Asn Pro Ile Arg Arg His Pro Gln Arg 645 650 655 gtg gac ccc aat ggc tac atg atg atg tcc ccc agc ggt ggc tgc tct 3037 Val Asp Pro Asn Gly Tyr Met Met Met Ser Pro Ser Gly Gly Cys Ser 660 665 670 cct gac att gga ggt ggc ccc agc agc agc agc agc agc agc aac gcc 3085 Pro Asp Ile Gly Gly Gly Pro Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Asn Ala 675 680 685 gtc cct tcc ggg acc agc tat gga aag ctg tgg aca aac ggg gta ggg 3133 Val Pro Ser Gly Thr Ser Tyr Gly Lys Leu Trp Thr Asn Gly Val Gly 690 695 700 ggc cac cac tct cat gtc ttg cct cac ccc aaa ccc cca gtg gag agc 3181 Gly His His Ser His Val Leu Pro His Pro Lys Pro Pro Val Glu Ser 705 710 715 720 agc ggt ggt aag ctc tta cct tgc aca ggt gac tac atg aac atg tca 3229 Ser Gly Gly Lys Leu Leu Pro Cys Thr Gly Asp Tyr Met Asn Met Ser 725 730 735 cca gtg ggg gac tcc aac acc agc agc ccc tcc gac tgc tac tac ggc 3277 Pro Val Gly Asp Ser Asn Thr Ser Ser Pro Ser Asp Cys Tyr Tyr Gly 740 745 750 cct gag gac ccc cag cac aag cca gtc ctc tcc tac tac tca ttg cca 3325 Pro Glu Asp Pro Gln His Lys Pro Val Leu Ser Tyr Tyr Ser Leu Pro 755 760 765 aga tcc ttt aag cac acc cag cgc ccc ggg gag ccg gag gag ggt gcc 3373 Arg Ser Phe Lys His Thr Gln Arg Pro Gly Glu Pro Glu Glu Gly Ala 770 775 780 cgg cat cag cac ctc cgc ctt tcc act agc tct ggt cgc ctt ctc tat 3421 Arg His Gln His Leu Arg Leu Ser Thr Ser Ser Gly Arg Leu Leu Tyr 785 790 795 800 gct gca aca gca gat gat tct tcc tct tcc acc agc agc gac agc ctg 3469 Ala Ala Thr Ala Asp Asp Ser Ser Ser Ser Thr Ser Ser Asp Ser Leu 805 810 815 ggt ggg gga tac tgc ggg gct agg ctg gag ccc agc ctt cca cat ccc 3517 Gly Gly Gly Tyr Cys Gly Ala Arg Leu Glu Pro Ser Leu Pro His Pro 820 825 830 cac cat cag gtt ctg cag ccc cat ctg cct cga aag gtg gac aca gct 3565 His His Gln Val Leu Gln Pro His Leu Pro Arg Lys Val Asp Thr Ala 835 840 845 gct cag acc aat agc cgc ctg gcc cgg ccc acg agg ctg tcc ctg ggg 3613 Ala Gln Thr Asn Ser Arg Leu Ala Arg Pro Thr Arg Leu Ser Leu Gly 850 855 860 gat ccc aag gcc agc acc tta cct cgg gcc cga gag cag cag cag cag 3661 Asp Pro Lys Ala Ser Thr Leu Pro Arg Ala Arg Glu Gln Gln Gln Gln 865 870 875 880 cag cag ccc ttg ctg cac cct cca gag ccc aag agc ccg ggg gaa tat 3709 Gln Gln Pro Leu Leu His Pro Pro Glu Pro Lys Ser Pro Gly Glu Tyr 885 890 895 gtc aat att gaa ttt ggg agt gat cag tct ggc tac ttg tct ggc ccg 3757 Val Asn Ile Glu Phe Gly Ser Asp Gln Ser Gly Tyr Leu Ser Gly Pro 900 905 910 gtg gct ttc cac agc tca cct tct gtc agg tgt cca tcc cag ctc cag 3805 Val Ala Phe His Ser Ser Pro Ser Val Arg Cys Pro Ser Gln Leu Gln 915 920 925 cca gct ccc aga gag gaa gag act ggc act gag gag tac atg aag atg 3853 Pro Ala Pro Arg Glu Glu Glu Thr Gly Thr Glu Glu Tyr Met Lys Met 930 935 940 gac ctg ggg ccg ggc cgg agg gca gcc tgg cag gag agc act ggg gtc 3901 Asp Leu Gly Pro Gly Arg Arg Ala Ala Trp Gln Glu Ser Thr Gly Val 945 950 955 960 gag atg ggc aga ctg ggc cct gca cct ccc ggg gct gct agc att tgc 3949 Glu Met Gly Arg Leu Gly Pro Ala Pro Pro Gly Ala Ala Ser Ile Cys 965 970 975 agg cct acc cgg gca gtg ccc agc agc cgg ggt gac tac atg acc atg 3997 Arg Pro Thr Arg Ala Val Pro Ser Ser Arg Gly Asp Tyr Met Thr Met 980 985 990 cag atg agt tgt ccc cgt cag agc tac gtg gac acc tcg cca gct gcc 4045 Gln Met Ser Cys Pro Arg Gln Ser Tyr Val Asp Thr Ser Pro Ala Ala 995 1000 1005 cct gta agc tat gct gac atg cga aca ggc att gct gca gag gag 4090 Pro Val Ser Tyr Ala Asp Met Arg Thr Gly Ile Ala Ala Glu Glu 1010 1015 1020 gtg agc ctg ccc agg gcc acc atg gct gct gcc tcc tca tcc tca 4135 Val Ser Leu Pro Arg Ala Thr Met Ala Ala Ala Ser Ser Ser Ser 1025 1030 1035 gca gcc tct gct tcc ccg act ggg cct caa ggg gca gca gag ctg 4180 Ala Ala Ser Ala Ser Pro Thr Gly Pro Gln Gly Ala Ala Glu Leu 1040 1045 1050 gct gcc cac tcg tcc ctg ctg ggg ggc cca caa gga cct ggg ggc 4225 Ala Ala His Ser Ser Leu Leu Gly Gly Pro Gln Gly Pro Gly Gly 1055 1060 1065 atg agc gcc ttc acc cgg gtg aac ctc agt cct aac cgc aac cag 4270 Met Ser Ala Phe Thr Arg Val Asn Leu Ser Pro Asn Arg Asn Gln 1070 1075 1080 agt gcc aaa gtg atc cgt gca gac cca caa ggg tgc cgg cgg agg 4315 Ser Ala Lys Val Ile Arg Ala Asp Pro Gln Gly Cys Arg Arg Arg 1085 1090 1095 cat agc tcc gag act ttc tcc tca aca ccc agt gcc acc cgg gtg 4360 His Ser Ser Glu Thr Phe Ser Ser Thr Pro Ser Ala Thr Arg Val 1100 1105 1110 ggc aac aca gtg ccc ttt gga gcg ggg gca gca gta ggg ggc ggt 4405 Gly Asn Thr Val Pro Phe Gly Ala Gly Ala Ala Val Gly Gly Gly 1115 1120 1125 ggc ggt agc agc agc agc agc gag gat gtg aaa cgc cac agc tct 4450 Gly Gly Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Glu Asp Val Lys Arg His Ser Ser 1130 1135 1140 gct tcc ttt gag aat gtg tgg ctg agg cct ggg gag ctt ggg gga 4495 Ala Ser Phe Glu Asn Val Trp Leu Arg Pro Gly Glu Leu Gly Gly 1145 1150 1155 gcc ccc aag gag cca gcc aaa ctg tgt ggg gct gct ggg ggt ttg 4540 Ala Pro Lys Glu Pro Ala Lys Leu Cys Gly Ala Ala Gly Gly Leu 1160 1165 1170 gag aat ggt ctt aac tac ata gac ctg gat ttg gtc aag gac ttc 4585 Glu Asn Gly Leu Asn Tyr Ile Asp Leu Asp Leu Val Lys Asp Phe 1175 1180 1185 aaa cag tgc cct cag gag tgc acc cct gaa ccg cag cct ccc cca 4630 Lys Gln Cys Pro Gln Glu Cys Thr Pro Glu Pro Gln Pro Pro Pro 1190 1195 1200 ccc cca ccc cct cat caa ccc ctg ggc agc ggt gag agc agc tcc 4675 Pro Pro Pro Pro His Gln Pro Leu Gly Ser Gly Glu Ser Ser Ser 1205 1210 1215 acc cgc cgc tca agt gag gat tta agc gcc tat gcc agc atc agt 4720 Thr Arg Arg Ser Ser Glu Asp Leu Ser Ala Tyr Ala Ser Ile Ser 1220 1225 1230 ttc cag aag cag cca gag gac cgt cag tag ctcaactgga catcacagca 4770 Phe Gln Lys Gln Pro Glu Asp Arg Gln 1235 1240 gaatgaagac ctaaatgacc tcagcaaatc ctcttctaac tcatgggtac ccagactcta 4830 aatatttcat gattcacaac taggacctca tatcttcctc atcagtagat ggtacgatgc 4890 atccatttca gtttgtttac tttatccaat cctcaggatt tcattgactg aactgcacgt 4950 tctatattgt gccaagcgaa aaaaaaaaat gcactgtgac accagaataa tgagtctgca 5010 taaacttcat cttcaacctt aaggacttag ctggccacag tgagctgatg tgcccaccac 5070 cgtgtcatga gagaatgggt ttactctcaa tgcattttca agatacattt catctgctgc 5130 tgaaactgtg tacgacaaag catcattgta aattatttca tacaaaactg ttcacgttgg 5190 gtggagagag tattaaatat ttaacatagg ttttgattta tatgtgtaat tttttaaatg 5250 aaaatgtaac ttttcttaca gcacatcttt tttttggatg tgggatggag gtatacaatg 5310 ttctgttgta aagagtggag caaatgctta aaacaaggct taaaagagta gaatagggta 5370 tgatccttgt tttaagattg taattcagaa aacataatat aagaatcata gtgccataga 5430 tggttctcaa ttgtatagtt atatttgctg atactatctc ttgtcatata aacctgatgt 5490 tgagctgagt tccttataag aattaatctt aattttgtat tttttcctgt aagacaatag 5550 gccatgttaa ttaaactgaa gaaggatata tttggctggg tgttttcaaa tgtcagctta 5610 aaattggtaa ttgaatggaa gcaaaattat aagaagagga aattaaagtc ttccattgca 5670 tgtattgtaa acagaaggag atgggtgatt ccttcaattc aaaagctctc tttggaatga 5730 acaatgtggg cgtttgtaaa ttctggaaat gtctttctat tcataataaa ctagatactg 5790 ttgatctttt 5800 29 1242 PRT Homo sapiens 29 Met Ala Ser Pro Pro Glu Ser Asp Gly Phe Ser Asp Val Arg Lys Val 1 5 10 15 Gly Tyr Leu Arg Lys Pro Lys Ser Met His Lys Arg Phe Phe Val Leu 20 25 30 Arg Ala Ala Ser Glu Ala Gly Gly Pro Ala Arg Leu Glu Tyr Tyr Glu 35 40 45 Asn Glu Lys Lys Trp Arg His Lys Ser Ser Ala Pro Lys Arg Ser Ile 50 55 60 Pro Leu Glu Ser Cys Phe Asn Ile Asn Lys Arg Ala Asp Ser Lys Asn 65 70 75 80 Lys His Leu Val Ala Leu Tyr Thr Arg Asp Glu His Phe Ala Ile Ala 85 90 95 Ala Asp Ser Glu Ala Glu Gln Asp Ser Trp Tyr Gln Ala Leu Leu Gln 100 105 110 Leu His Asn Arg Ala Lys Gly His His Asp Gly Ala Ala Ala Leu Gly 115 120 125 Ala Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Cys Ser Gly Ser Ser Gly Leu Gly Glu 130 135 140 Ala Gly Glu Asp Leu Ser Tyr Gly Asp Val Pro Pro Gly Pro Ala Phe 145 150 155 160 Lys Glu Val Trp Gln Val Ile Leu Lys Pro Lys Gly Leu Gly Gln Thr 165 170 175 Lys Asn Leu Ile Gly Ile Tyr Arg Leu Cys Leu Thr Ser Lys Thr Ile 180 185 190 Ser Phe Val Lys Leu Asn Ser Glu Ala Ala Ala Val Val Leu Gln Leu 195 200 205 Met Asn Ile Arg Arg Cys Gly His Ser Glu Asn Phe Phe Phe Ile Glu 210 215 220 Val Gly Arg Ser Ala Val Thr Gly Pro Gly Glu Phe Trp Met Gln Val 225 230 235 240 Asp Asp Ser Val Val Ala Gln Asn Met His Glu Thr Ile Leu Glu Ala 245 250 255 Met Arg Ala Met Ser Asp Glu Phe Arg Pro Arg Ser Lys Ser Gln Ser 260 265 270 Ser Ser Asn Cys Ser Asn Pro Ile Ser Val Pro Leu Arg Arg His His 275 280 285 Leu Asn Asn Pro Pro Pro Ser Gln Val Gly Leu Thr Arg Arg Ser Arg 290 295 300 Thr Glu Ser Ile Thr Ala Thr Ser Pro Ala Ser Met Val Gly Gly Lys 305 310 315 320 Pro Gly Ser Phe Arg Val Arg Ala Ser Ser Asp Gly Glu Gly Thr Met 325 330 335 Ser Arg Pro Ala Ser Val Asp Gly Ser Pro Val Ser Pro Ser Thr Asn 340 345 350 Arg Thr His Ala His Arg His Arg Gly Ser Ala Arg Leu His Pro Pro 355 360 365 Leu Asn His Ser Arg Ser Ile Pro Met Pro Ala Ser Arg Cys Ser Pro 370 375 380 Ser Ala Thr Ser Pro Val Ser Leu Ser Ser Ser Ser Thr Ser Gly His 385 390 395 400 Gly Ser Thr Ser Asp Cys Leu Phe Pro Arg Arg Ser Ser Ala Ser Val 405 410 415 Ser Gly Ser Pro Ser Asp Gly Gly Phe Ile Ser Ser Asp Glu Tyr Gly 420 425 430 Ser Ser Pro Cys Asp Phe Arg Ser Ser Phe Arg Ser Val Thr Pro Asp 435 440 445 Ser Leu Gly His Thr Pro Pro Ala Arg Gly Glu Glu Glu Leu Ser Asn 450 455 460 Tyr Ile Cys Met Gly Gly Lys Gly Pro Ser Thr Leu Thr Ala Pro Asn 465 470 475 480 Gly His Tyr Ile Leu Ser Arg Gly Gly Asn Gly His Arg Cys Thr Pro 485 490 495 Gly Thr Gly Leu Gly Thr Ser Pro Ala Leu Ala Gly Asp Glu Ala Ala 500 505 510 Ser Ala Ala Asp Leu Asp Asn Arg Phe Arg Lys Arg Thr His Ser Ala 515 520 525 Gly Thr Ser Pro Thr Ile Thr His Gln Lys Thr Pro Ser Gln Ser Ser 530 535 540 Val Ala Ser Ile Glu Glu Tyr Thr Glu Met Met Pro Ala Tyr Pro Pro 545 550 555 560 Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Arg Leu Pro Gly His Arg His Ser Ala Phe 565 570 575 Val Pro Thr Arg Ser Tyr Pro Glu Glu Gly Leu Glu Met His Pro Leu 580 585 590 Glu Arg Arg Gly Gly His His Arg Pro Asp Ser Ser Thr Leu His Thr 595 600 605 Asp Asp Gly Tyr Met Pro Met Ser Pro Gly Val Ala Pro Val Pro Ser 610 615 620 Gly Arg Lys Gly Ser Gly Asp Tyr Met Pro Met Ser Pro Lys Ser Val 625 630 635 640 Ser Ala Pro Gln Gln Ile Ile Asn Pro Ile Arg Arg His Pro Gln Arg 645 650 655 Val Asp Pro Asn Gly Tyr Met Met Met Ser Pro Ser Gly Gly Cys Ser 660 665 670 Pro Asp Ile Gly Gly Gly Pro Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Asn Ala 675 680 685 Val Pro Ser Gly Thr Ser Tyr Gly Lys Leu Trp Thr Asn Gly Val Gly 690 695 700 Gly His His Ser His Val Leu Pro His Pro Lys Pro Pro Val Glu Ser 705 710 715 720 Ser Gly Gly Lys Leu Leu Pro Cys Thr Gly Asp Tyr Met Asn Met Ser 725 730 735 Pro Val Gly Asp Ser Asn Thr Ser Ser Pro Ser Asp Cys Tyr Tyr Gly 740 745 750 Pro Glu Asp Pro Gln His Lys Pro Val Leu Ser Tyr Tyr Ser Leu Pro 755 760 765 Arg Ser Phe Lys His Thr Gln Arg Pro Gly Glu Pro Glu Glu Gly Ala 770 775 780 Arg His Gln His Leu Arg Leu Ser Thr Ser Ser Gly Arg Leu Leu Tyr 785 790 795 800 Ala Ala Thr Ala Asp Asp Ser Ser Ser Ser Thr Ser Ser Asp Ser Leu 805 810 815 Gly Gly Gly Tyr Cys Gly Ala Arg Leu Glu Pro Ser Leu Pro His Pro 820 825 830 His His Gln Val Leu Gln Pro His Leu Pro Arg Lys Val Asp Thr Ala 835 840 845 Ala Gln Thr Asn Ser Arg Leu Ala Arg Pro Thr Arg Leu Ser Leu Gly 850 855 860 Asp Pro Lys Ala Ser Thr Leu Pro Arg Ala Arg Glu Gln Gln Gln Gln 865 870 875 880 Gln Gln Pro Leu Leu His Pro Pro Glu Pro Lys Ser Pro Gly Glu Tyr 885 890 895 Val Asn Ile Glu Phe Gly Ser Asp Gln Ser Gly Tyr Leu Ser Gly Pro 900 905 910 Val Ala Phe His Ser Ser Pro Ser Val Arg Cys Pro Ser Gln Leu Gln 915 920 925 Pro Ala Pro Arg Glu Glu Glu Thr Gly Thr Glu Glu Tyr Met Lys Met 930 935 940 Asp Leu Gly Pro Gly Arg Arg Ala Ala Trp Gln Glu Ser Thr Gly Val 945 950 955 960 Glu Met Gly Arg Leu Gly Pro Ala Pro Pro Gly Ala Ala Ser Ile Cys 965 970 975 Arg Pro Thr Arg Ala Val Pro Ser Ser Arg Gly Asp Tyr Met Thr Met 980 985 990 Gln Met Ser Cys Pro Arg Gln Ser Tyr Val Asp Thr Ser Pro Ala Ala 995 1000 1005 Pro Val Ser Tyr Ala Asp Met Arg Thr Gly Ile Ala Ala Glu Glu 1010 1015 1020 Val Ser Leu Pro Arg Ala Thr Met Ala Ala Ala Ser Ser Ser Ser 1025 1030 1035 Ala Ala Ser Ala Ser Pro Thr Gly Pro Gln Gly Ala Ala Glu Leu 1040 1045 1050 Ala Ala His Ser Ser Leu Leu Gly Gly Pro Gln Gly Pro Gly Gly 1055 1060 1065 Met Ser Ala Phe Thr Arg Val Asn Leu Ser Pro Asn Arg Asn Gln 1070 1075 1080 Ser Ala Lys Val Ile Arg Ala Asp Pro Gln Gly Cys Arg Arg Arg 1085 1090 1095 His Ser Ser Glu Thr Phe Ser Ser Thr Pro Ser Ala Thr Arg Val 1100 1105 1110 Gly Asn Thr Val Pro Phe Gly Ala Gly Ala Ala Val Gly Gly Gly 1115 1120 1125 Gly Gly Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Glu Asp Val Lys Arg His Ser Ser 1130 1135 1140 Ala Ser Phe Glu Asn Val Trp Leu Arg Pro Gly Glu Leu Gly Gly 1145 1150 1155 Ala Pro Lys Glu Pro Ala Lys Leu Cys Gly Ala Ala Gly Gly Leu 1160 1165 1170 Glu Asn Gly Leu Asn Tyr Ile Asp Leu Asp Leu Val Lys Asp Phe 1175 1180 1185 Lys Gln Cys Pro Gln Glu Cys Thr Pro Glu Pro Gln Pro Pro Pro 1190 1195 1200 Pro Pro Pro Pro His Gln Pro Leu Gly Ser Gly Glu Ser Ser Ser 1205 1210 1215 Thr Arg Arg Ser Ser Glu Asp Leu Ser Ala Tyr Ala Ser Ile Ser 1220 1225 1230 Phe Gln Lys Gln Pro Glu Asp Arg Gln 1235 1240 

1. A pharmaceutical composition that blocks angiogenesis comprising as active agent at least one substance selected from the group consisting of (i) a nucleic acid molecule of a gene coding for protein IRS-1, a complementary sequence or a fragment thereof and (ii) a molecule which inhibits expression of a nucleic acid molecule according to (i).
 2. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, wherein the active agent is at least one nucleotide sequence selected from among the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22 and SEQ ID NO. 23 and SEQ ID NO.
 28. 3. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, wherein the molecule which inhibits expression of a nucleic acid molecule coding for protein IRS-1 is an antisense sequence of a coding region of SEQ ID NO. 28 comprising at least twelve contiguous nucleotides or derivatives thereof.
 4. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, wherein the molecule which inhibits expression of a nucleic acid molecule of a gene coding for protein IRS-1 is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22 and SEQ ID NO. 23 or a fragment thereof comprising at least twelve contiguous nucleotides or derivatives thereof.
 5. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.
 6. The pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, which contains about 0.001 mg to about 50 mg of active agent and is in a form capable of subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous or transdermal administration.
 7. A method of inhibiting angiogenesis comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition according to claim
 1. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the active agent is at least one nucleotide sequence selected from among the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ BD NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23 and SEQ ID NO.
 28. 9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the molecule which inhibits expression of a nucleic acid molecule coding for protein IRS-1 is an antisense sequence of a coding region of SEQ ID NO. 28 comprising at least twelve contiguous nucleotides or derivatives thereof.
 10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the molecule which inhibits expression of a nucleic acid molecule of a gene coding for protein IRS-1 is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 1, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ BD NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22 and SEQ ID NO. 23 or a fragment thereof comprising at least twelve contiguous nucleotides or derivatives thereof.
 11. The method according to claim 7, which contains about 0.001 mg to about 50 mg of active agent and is in a form capable of subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous or transdermal administration.
 12. A method of treating retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, atherosclerosis, hyperstimulation of the ovary, psoriasis, endometritis associated with neovascularization, restenosis due to balloon angioplasty, tissue superproduction due to cicatrization, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, vascular inflammation, Raynaud's disease and Raynaud's phenomena, aneurysm, arterial restenosis, thrombophlebitis, lymphangitis, lymphedema, tissue cicatrization and repair, ischemia, angina, myocardial infarction, chronic heart disease, congestive heart failure, age-related macular degeneration or osteoporosis comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition according to claim
 1. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the active agent is at least one nucleotide sequence selected from among the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3, SEQ ID NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ ID NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ ID NO. 18, SEQ ID NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22, SEQ ID NO. 23 and SEQ ID NO.
 28. 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the molecule which inhibits expression of a nucleic acid molecule coding for protein IRS-1 is an antisense sequence of a coding region of SEQ ID NO. 28 comprising at least twelve contiguous nucleotides or derivatives thereof.
 15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the molecule which inhibits expression of a nucleic acid molecule of a gene coding for protein IRS-1 is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO. 2, SEQ ID NO. 3, SEQ BD NO. 4, SEQ ID NO. 5, SEQ ID NO. 6, SEQ ID NO. 7, SEQ ID NO. 8, SEQ ID NO. 9, SEQ ID NO. 10, SEQ ID NO. 11, SEQ B NO. 12, SEQ ID NO. 13, SEQ ID NO. 14, SEQ ID NO. 15, SEQ ID NO. 16, SEQ ID NO. 17, SEQ B) NO. 18, SEQ BD NO. 19, SEQ ID NO. 20, SEQ ID NO. 21, SEQ ID NO. 22 and SEQ ID NO. 23 or a fragment thereof comprising at least twelve contiguous nucleotides or derivatives thereof.
 16. The method according to claim 12, which contains about 0.001 mg to about 50 mg of active agent and is in a form capable of subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous or transdermal administration.
 17. A method of diagnosing pathologies linked to angiogenesis comprising: contacting a composition containing an active agent including at least one substance selected from the group consisting of (i) a nucleic acid molecule of a gene coding for protein IRS-1, a complementary sequence or a fragment thereof and (ii) a molecule which inhibits expression of a nucleic acid molecule according to (i) and target cells in a condition sufficient to permit inhibition of IRS-1 gene expression; measuring expression of the IRS-1 protein by the cells; and comparing expression of the protein measured before and after hybridization to measure inhibition of the expression.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the pathologies are selected from the group consisting of retinopathies, rheumatodi arthritis, Crohn's disease, atherosclerosis, hyperstimulation of the ovary, psoriasis, endometritis associated with neovascularization, restenosis due to balloon angioplasty, tissue superproduction due to cicatrization, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, vascular inflammation, Raynaud's disease, Raynaud's phenomena, aneurysm, arterial restenosis, thrombophlebitis, lymphangitis, lymphedema, tissue cicatrization and repair, ischemia, angina, myocardial infraction, chronic heart disease, congestive heart failure, age-related macular degeneration and osteroporosis. 